Time to thin the herd a bit. My old bull has served his purpose and the young one that I was going to replace him with has not turned out to be as I wished. One of my cows, who has provided us with 8 very respectable calves over the years seems to be slipping. She lost her calf this year and so, with winter coming on, it appears that it is her time as well.
Yesterday I backed the trailer up to the gate and made my first attempt at loading the three up for a drive. The younger of the two bulls, Ballsy, followed me (actually he followed the bucket of corn I was carrying) right into the trailer. The old guy, Turdfox, was not far behind. The old cow, Dolly, was more wary, and in spite of the corn I dumped on the floor of the trailer, would only put her two front feet in and would follow me back out. We went through this several times and finally it was dark, so I decided to wait until this morning to load them.
This morning came and, following the same routine, I came up with the same result. I had a deadline (bad pun.....I know) so I decided, "to hell with it!" and closed the door on the two bulls and gave Dolly a brief reprieve. If my wife would have been able to help, we might have gotten all three on the trailer, but she gets weepy knowing what is coming and I gave her a reprieve as well this morning.
After about a 2 hour drive, a brief inspection with security (really!), a USDA overseer and a packing house employee watched as I backed the trailer into the dock - my little stock trailer with two bulls between two huge semi's with probably 40 head in each. I opened the gate and called the two bulls out, who were understandably and justifiably nervous. The employee offered me a "rattle prod" which is a non electric noise maker that will help the animals moving along. I declined. I got behind them and said, "lets go boys!" and clapped my hands and off we went down the aisle, around several corners and finally into a holding pen lined with fresh sawdust. I only occasionally patted them both on the hind quarter to keep them moving. After latching the gate, I turned around and headed back down the aisle. The USDA inspector was standing watching and as I approached, he shook his head and said, "amazing!" "What do you mean?" I asked. "No struggle at all. They did exactly what you wanted them to do with no drama!" "So?" I replied, "why is that amazing?" "Most small operators have to chase their animals around to get them in the pens." "I wish they would have loaded as easily" I replied. He just shook his head.
I signed my ticket and will get a check in the mail by the middle of next week. I got in my truck and came home. I will find a new bull in the spring. I have Black Angus cattle, but I have been thinking about trying to find a bull with some Wagyu in it. We will see. I have all winter to think about it. I will probably make the trip again next week with Dolly.
As a side note, to clarify, sound older animals that are taken to the locker because they are no longer productive are graded and depending on meat quality, will become hamburger or better cuts that are marketed to contract buyers. Most likely my young bull will end up as hamburger for the restaurant market. My older bull will likely supply some nice choice cuts in addition to hamburger. Dolly, will be hamburger.
When it is my turn, I expect to be dog food.
A bit of a footnote here. Reading this back it seems a bit cold and to a certain extent it is because that is how it must be. All our animals have names and all are treated quite well. If I was honest with myself (and unfortunately, I usually am) I guess I almost prefer the productive animals to the "pets" (don't tell Beulah!). I have watched horses as they got into their upper 20's and in the "failure to thrive" stage where no matter how much they eat, they get skinnier and skinnier and finally you are left with no resort except to put them down. I have had to put down neighbor's animals because they could not bring themselves to do it. I have had to put down dogs...and the latest one, Rascal, who I wrote about on that other site, was the hardest thing I have to do and I have another that is coming up sooner than I want to think about. These animals live their lives for us. They are happy to see me when I come to the gate. Or at least I would like to think they are happy to see me and not just the bucket of grain I am carrying...Reality sometimes is hard and I have to tell you, as I drove away from the locker, I could not help but think about Turdfox shoving his head at me when I stopped scratching (which is a very dangerous thing) much like the dog puts his nose underneath it and shoves when you stop scratching. They lead a good life right to the end and even in the end they serve us and deserve respect.
For a time, we raised English Bulldogs....I have spoke and written about that as well. We sold puppies all over the Midwest and one went to Canada. We always screened the prospective owners because we wanted to at least have a feeling that they went to a nice home. We turned more than one down. Without fail, every puppy left our home with my wife crying.
I was only half joking about being made into dog food when I go. I have gotten so much enjoyment, so much comfort and so much unconditional companionship from the dogs I have had that the least I could do is provide for them in the end....nah....scratch that...burn me up...I would be too tough to chew and they might break a tooth.
If i raised animals, i can only imagine i would want to be the one to kill them, not hand them off to strangers. I wonder if it is some regulatory red tape that they won't take dead animals and also want to kill them to fit their slaughter schedule or something. I know every time i have to take a pet in to the vet to get put down i curse the heavens and wish i could just do it myself.
ReplyDeleteIf I have to put an animal down for humane or health reasons, I do it myself. When it is going into my own freezer, I do it myself. If it is being sold either to a neighbor or for consumption, it must all happen under the eyes of the USDA. I have sold both hogs and cattle to neighbors and then helped them slaughter them. The bottom line is that you can do it for yourself, but not for someone else.
DeleteSince we do not have a vet in the vicinity, I have been forced to put down a number of pets. The most recent was our old dog Rascal who was 19. She had been a member of the family for 17 years...hardest thing I ever had to do and I wished I had a way out of it, but there was no choice and no alternative.
ahh.. makes sense. I have been watching a lot of "Alaska the last frontier" on discovery channel. oh the romantic notions I get from that show. I am about 45% ready to give it all up and move to the middle of nowhere and either survive, or perish. I got to find a way out of this daily grind of work, sleep, commute, somehow before it is too late.
DeleteIt may seem romantic, but the way we live is really far from it. Hard work and little spare time. There are many rewards, but when you boil it down, we are far from self sufficient with both of us working full time (plus) to support ourselves and our foolishness.
DeleteHmm.. i always imagined you at a desk job in the 90's, then one day telling your boss to shove it and walking out of the office in a rush, ripping your tie off and throwing it in the bushes. Proceeding to directly go to your wifes job and saying ugently in a tone she had never heard before, darling, this may seem crazy, but just trust me. We have to go now, and we won't be coming back at which point she tentatively gives you her hand and you take it and quickly dart out the back door, leaving her computer still running and her half filled coffee mug on the desk. From there, with only the cloths on your backs you get in your car and drive towards the montains and stake your clame. At first you live out of your car for a few weeks until you build a rough trappers shack. Then you slowly start building a small log cabin, one felled log at a time. Years go by, you have cashed in your 401k's by now and invested in some farm animals, a tractor, supplies, etc. and now some twenty years later you have a sustainable and profitable farm. Every week in the summer you guys have your booth at the local market were you meet other locals and build lasting friendships and solid working relationships. People have started to take notice and often come to you for advice on all matters pertaining to how best to live a content and fulfilling life. Though exhausted most days from all your daily obligations, you never refuse an interview with a paper or magazine, help friends with their own farms, and always pick up the phone at two am, sometimes you even go pick up a wayward teen somewhere. Often a guy or girl who hopped out their parents window, went to their girl/boyfriends house, got drunk and needs a safe ride home. You have long been the santa in the town christmas parade, are tge honorary mayor, and can't walk down main street without seeing half a dozen people you know well. This has been my assumption up until now, but the truth is sounding.. well.. much different.
DeleteSome of what you assumed is true and some parallels if it makes you feel better. Not the mayor, have never been Santa Clause, but I do know everyone here and I have picked up a kid in the middle of the night. I also have answered lots of 2AM phone calls. I am always surprised when someone asks me for advice....even more surprised when they take it.
DeleteThis is a reality of life I am not atv all familiar with. What struck me is you being both matter-of-fact about it, yet very humane and dare I say loving with your animals. Clearly, they trusted you - to the amazement of the employee. They did what you asked them to because they trusted you. And I don't think you taking them to their death was "betrayal" or anything like that, either - I'm not overly sentimental with those kind of things. You were humane with them and that is what matters. I hope they died peacefully.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the packing houses when I was younger, and I have watched the process in this one for the exact reasons that you note. It is very humane and in the case of an old animal who is failing or no longer useful but still sound, better than wasting away. Our animals lead pretty good lives...I always told my kids that a happy pig was a tasty pig and a happy cow made good steaks. While I can't speak for the animals that have to be rushed into the pens, I can say that mine died peacefully and with a bit of dignity.
DeleteIndeed. :)
DeleteI'd be like your wife, goliath - weepy about it. I realise it's only because I'm a townie and all my interaction with live animals has been social. Sentimentality is a bit of an artificial emotion though, so if I had any suspicion that I was eating an acquaintance, I wouldn't ask questions
DeleteI probably should add a footnote....and I think I will...it reads a bit colder than it actually is.
DeleteThis makes me sad
ReplyDeleteI get attached to all my animals. But reality has to rule emotion sometimes.
DeleteYou actually don't come across as cold. Practical and compassionate. Must be all that time you've spent wearing assless chaps
DeleteHe's never going to return them. I'm just gonna have to forget about them.
DeleteThere's something oddly reassuring about all of this. Maybe it's the way you write. Maybe it's the way you live.
ReplyDeleteYou have a respect for life that exceeds the capacity of most I have encountered. The reaction of the inspector is all the evidence anyone needs to know that you sir, are unique.
I am proud to know you and proud to call you my friend.
I agree with the other comment. This makes me sad. But, the end of any life must be done with respect. My sadness is tempered with the realization that there is good in the world.
My friend, you are the epitome of a good man.